Supreme Court orders signature count on medical marijuana measure

by Roby Brock (roby@talkbusiness.net)

The day after an advocacy group filed a lawsuit over the rejection of its signatures, the Arkansas Supreme Court on Wednesday (Oct. 2) ordered the disputed signatures of a proposed medical marijuana amendment, Issue 3, to be counted and it approved an expedited hearing to decide if the measure would be on the Nov. 5 ballot.

On Monday (Sept. 30), Arkansas Secretary of State John Thurston said Arkansans for Patient Access (APA), the ballot question committee seeking approval of Issue 3, did not meet the signature threshold of 90,704. Thurston cited incorrect filings of signatures as his reason for the rejection.

The state’s high court ordered the following actions take place in response to the filing by Arkansans for Patient Access:

• A preliminary injunction is granted;

• Secretary of State John Thurston must verify the disputed signatures;

• The group’s requested hearing on Thurston’s decision will be expedited; and

• A special master will not be appointed to the case, in opposition to APA’s request.

Supreme Court orders signature count on medical marijuana measure

Senate panel moves signature threshold bill forward for citizen initiatives

by Ronak Patel (rspatel.personal@gmail.com)

The Senate State Agencies & Governmental Affairs Committee approved House Bill 1419 on Thursday (March 2) that would require petitioners to get signatures from 50 counties, instead of 15 counties, to get a citizen-led issue on the ballot.

According to the state’s Constitution, voter signatures from at least 15 counties are needed as part of the process to get an issue on the ballot.

Sen. Jim Dotson, R-Bentonville, a sponsor of the bill, said HB1419 would benefit smaller counties.

https://talkbusiness.net/2023/03/senate-panel-moves-signature-threshold-bill-forward-for-citizen-initiatives/

Coalition forms against proposed changes to Arkansas ballot initiative process

KUAR | By Daniel Breen

A coalition of nonprofit groups has formed in opposition to a proposed amendment to the Arkansas Constitution on the November ballot.

The group, called Protect Arkansas Rights, opposes Issue 2 which would raise the number of votes needed to pass citizen-led ballot initiatives as well as constitutional amendments proposed by both citizens and state lawmakers.

Kwami Abdul-Bey, elections coordinator for the Arkansas Public Policy Panel, says a number of crucial state laws directly resulted from the state’s ballot initiative process.

https://www.ualrpublicradio.org/2022-09-22/coalition-forms-against-proposed-changes-to-arkansas-ballot-initiative-process

Meg Kelly/NPR

Issue 2 on the November ballot would make it harder to pass citizen-led ballot initiatives and proposed constitutional amendments in Arkansas.

Group pushing for recreational marijuana in Arkansas releases first TV ad

by Marine Glisovic (msglisovic@sbgtv.com)

A new TV ad pushing for recreational marijuana is set to hit the airwaves on Wednesday (Aug. 31).

Responsible Growth Arkansas (RGA) is highlighting where some of the taxes derived from recreational cannabis sales will go in this new ad.

Whether Arkansans will see a recreational marijuana use question on the November ballot is yet to be determined as it is still being reviewed by the Arkansas Supreme Court. The State Board of Election Commissioners denied certification of the ballot title, but an appeal from the group’s supporters is being heard by the state’s high court. The court conditionally certified the measure to be on the November ballot while it decides whether the votes will count.

https://talkbusiness.net/2022/08/group-pushing-for-recreational-marijuana-in-arkansas-releases-first-tv-ad/

Adult-use cannabis makes Nov. 8 ballot, votes might not count

by Jeff Della Rosa (JDellaRosa@nwabj.com)

A group recently submitted more than twice the number of signatures for a ballot issue that, if approved, would allow for adult-use or recreational cannabis in Arkansas. While the issue was conditionally certified to be on the November ballot, the Arkansas Supreme Court will decide whether the votes will count.

Responsible Growth Arkansas gathered more than 193,000 signatures, more than twice the 89,151 signatures required to make the ballot. In late July, Arkansas Secretary of State John Thurston confirmed the group had the signatures to meet the requirement. But in early August, the Arkansas Board of Election Commissioners, on which Thurston is chairman, denied certifying the ballot issue amid concerns regarding sufficient background checks for dispensary owners and limits on THC, tetrahydrocannabinol, a marijuana chemical.

Steve Lancaster, attorney for Wright Lindsey Jennings and spokesman for Responsible Growth Arkansas, appealed to the Supreme Court, and it ruled to conditionally certify the ballot issue. Lancaster said the ruling was needed to meet the Aug. 25 certification deadline, so the ballots could be printed on time.

https://talkbusiness.net/2022/08/adult-use-cannabis-makes-nov-8-ballot-votes-might-not-count/

Steve Lancaster is an attorney for Wright Lindsey Jennings and the spokesman for Responsible Growth Arkansas. The group recently submitted more than twice the number of signatures needed for a ballot issue to legalize adult-use or recreational cannabis in Arkansas.

Recreational marijuana petition finds widespread support, tests new signature collection process

by Roby Brock (roby@talkbusiness.net)

Under new laws passed by the Arkansas Legislature in recent years, many political observers expected greater difficulty in collecting ballot petition signatures.

But Responsible Growth Arkansas collected more than 193,000 signatures for its adult recreational marijuana initiative – more than twice what was needed to qualify. The Secretary of State’s office is reviewing the signatures and, if approved, the ballot title will be considered by the State Board of Election Commissioners under a new state law.

Of the $3.2 million raised by Responsible Growth Arkansas as of its June 30, 2022 financial disclosure report, approximately $2.3 million has been spent on the signature collection process. Verified Arkansas, LLC of Little Rock and Advanced Micro Targeting, Inc. of Dallas are the two beneficiaries of that spending.

https://talkbusiness.net/2022/07/recreational-marijuana-petition-finds-widespread-support-tests-new-signature-collection-process/

Signatures submitted for recreational marijuana measure, Pope County casino repeal

by Marine Glisovic (msglisovic@sbgtv.com)

Two ballot titles were turned in Friday (July 8) to the Arkansas Secretary of State’s (SOS) office. If certified, Arkansas voters will vote on two questions, with one related to recreational marijuana, and the other involving a planned casino in Pope County.

The signatures must first be certified by the SOS. It takes 89,151 valid signatures for an item to be approved for the ballot.

Friday morning, the group behind the adult use marijuana proposal, Responsible Growth for Arkansas, submitted more than 190,000 petition signatures and ballot title for certification. According to the filing made with the SOS, former state legislator and former Democratic Party of Arkansas official Eddie Armstrong is listed as the chairman of the group.

https://talkbusiness.net/2022/07/signatures-submitted-for-recreational-marijuana-measure-pope-county-casino-repeal/

Daniel Breen/KUAR News

Steve Lancaster, attorney for Responsible Growth Arkansas, submits paperwork to Leslie Bellamy (left), director of elections for the Arkansas Secretary of State's office, and Shantell McGraw (center), assistant director of elections.

Arkansas Recreational Marijuana Ballot Petition Initiative Exceeding Expectations

Jacqueline Froelich of KUAF

A state-wide citizens' petition initiative to place an Arkansas constitutional amendment to legalize recreational marijuana for adults on the November ballot is well underway. The “Responsible Growth Arkansas” campaign ends July 8th.

https://www.kuaf.com/show/ozarks-at-large/2022-06-08/arkansas-recreational-marijuana-ballot-petition-initiative-exceeding-expectations

J. Froelich

Contract canvasser, Jeff Hollis, right, and Ellis Hairston, a verified Arkansas coordinator prepare to collect petition signatures on the Fayetteville Square to legalize recreational marijuana.